JP2007279832A - Information processor and information processing method and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily execute the layout processing of a cover by determining the layout of the cover based on set print setting information and page data included in original data. <P>SOLUTION: This information processor communicably connected to a printing device is provided with a setting means for setting a cover layout type to be used in output from a plurality of cover layout types for performing layout processing to a cover including a back cover; a reception means for receiving original data including the page data to be printed; a determination means for determining page data to be laid out in the cover region from the page data included in the original data received by the reception means based on the cover layout type set by the setting means; and a layout means for laying out the page data determined by the determination means according to the cover layout type set by the setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, method, medium, and the like in a document processing system that provides an editing function for document data generated by, for example, a document processing program.

  In recent years, there has been a market called “Print On Demand (POD)” with the increase in speed and image quality of electrophotographic printing apparatuses and inkjet printing apparatuses. In this POD market, we aim to handle large numbers of copies and jobs in a short delivery time without using large-scale devices and systems. For example, digital image forming devices such as digital copiers and digital multifunction devices I use it. The POD market is a market that realizes digital printing using electronic data, and management and control using a computer have become more popular than the conventional printing industry. In the POD market, document data is received from a customer and output processing is executed according to the document data.

  In the POD market, there is a case where an order requesting that a book be created from document data is received as a request from the user. In this case, the received document data is output, and a bookbinding process is executed as a post-printing process. A technique for executing from image formation to gluing bookbinding with one image forming apparatus is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

Further, as one embodiment of the bookbinding process, there is a case binding that executes the bookbinding process by wrapping the output result of the text with the output result of the cover. When performing case binding, the cover includes a spine width area. The technology for executing drawing processing on the spine cover by enlarging or reducing the font size or image according to the back width area size is disclosed. (Patent Document 2).
JP 2004155155 A JP-A-10-151734

  However, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not consider layout processing for the cover at all.

  Further, in the case binding described above, a spine cover area is generated, but the size of the spine cover varies depending on the submitted manuscript data and is not a size that can be determined uniformly. Specifically, the spine cover size is a value that varies depending on the number of pages of the text and the recording medium. Therefore, when the case binding described above is set as a bookbinding process, a cover layout process that takes into account the spine cover size is required, so that an operator needs to determine the cover layout every time manuscript data is submitted. To do.

  Furthermore, in the POD market described above, output processing is executed based on manuscript data submitted by a customer, but it is conceivable that manuscript data in various forms is transmitted by the customer. For example, document data that has been subjected to imposition processing for the front cover in advance as shown by 2913 in FIG. 29B may be received, or an original that has not been subjected to imposition processing for the front cover in advance as 2901 in FIG. 29A. Data may be received. In that case, the operator checks the received document data and then outputs the document data without changing the order of the page data, or changes the page data order to determine the area to be laid out page by page, etc. Different processing occurs for each data.

  As described above, when setting the case binding as the bookbinding process, the worker has to spend a great deal of labor and time to determine the cover layout process.

  The present application has been made in view of the above-described problems. By determining the cover layout based on the set print setting information and the page data included in the document data, the efficiency of the cover layout process is improved. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

  An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus, and for performing layout processing on a cover including a back cover, setting means for setting a cover layout type to be used at the time of output from a plurality of cover layout types, and printing Receiving means for receiving document data including page data to be processed, and pages to be laid out in the cover area from page data included in the document data received by the receiving means based on the cover layout type set by the setting means And determining means for determining data, and layout means for laying out the page data determined by the determining means in accordance with a cover layout type set by the setting means.

  By determining the cover layout based on the set print setting information and the page data included in the document data, the cover layout process can be easily executed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[System Overview]
First, an outline of a document processing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The document processing system includes an electronic document writer that converts a data file created by a general application into an electronic document file, and a bookbinding application that provides a function for editing the electronic document file. The bookbinding application enables the creation and editing of a document in which the created data is grouped, and improves the operability of the document so as to efficiently edit the document.

[System configuration and operation]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the document processing system according to the present embodiment. The document processing system is realized by a digital computer 101 (hereinafter also referred to as a host computer) which is a preferred embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. A general application 101 shown in FIG. 1 is an application program that provides functions such as word processing, spreadsheet, photo retouching, drawing, painting, presentation, and text editing, and has a printing function for the OS. These applications use a predetermined interface (generally called GDI) provided by an operating system (OS) when printing application data such as created document data and image data. That is, the application 101 transmits an output command (referred to as a GDI function) in a format dependent on a predetermined OS to the OS output module that provides the above-described interface in order to print the created data. . On the other hand, the output module that has received the output command converts the output command into a format that can be processed by an output device such as a printer, and outputs the converted command (referred to as a DDI function). The format that can be processed by the output device varies depending on the device type, manufacturer, and model. For this reason, a device driver is provided for each device, and the OS uses the device driver to convert commands, generates print data, and generates a print job by using JL (Job Language). When using Microsoft Windows as an OS, a module called GDI (Graphic Device Interface) corresponds to the output module described above.

  The electronic manuscript writer 102 is an improvement of the above-described device driver and is a software module provided for realizing the document processing system. However, the electronic document writer 102 is not intended for a specific output device, and converts the output command into a format that can be processed by the bookbinding application 104 or the printer driver 106. The format after conversion by the electronic document writer 102 (hereinafter referred to as an electronic document format) is not particularly limited as long as a document in units of pages can be expressed in a detailed format. Of substantial standard formats, for example, PDF format or SVG format by Adobe Systems can be adopted as the electronic document format.

  When using the electronic document writer 102 from the general application 101, the electronic document writer 102 is designated as a device driver used for output, and printing is executed. However, the electronic document file as created by the electronic document writer 102 does not have a complete format as an electronic document file. Therefore, the bookbinding application 104 designates the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver, and conversion of application data into an electronic document file is executed under the management of the bookbinding application 104. Then, the bookbinding application 104 completes the new incomplete electronic document file generated by the electronic document writer 102 as an electronic document file having a format described later. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to clearly identify this point, a file created by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is called an “electronic manuscript file”, and an electronic manuscript file given a structure by the bookbinding application 104 is called a “book file”. Call. If there is no need to distinguish between them, a document file, an electronic manuscript file, and a book file generated by an application are all referred to as a document file (or document data).

  As described above, the general application designates the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver and prints data. As a result, the electronic manuscript writer converts the page defined by the general application 101 (hereinafter referred to as a logical page or manuscript page) into an electronic manuscript format, and stores the electronic manuscript file 103 in a storage medium such as a hard disk. . The hard disk may be a local drive included in a computer that implements the document processing system of the present embodiment, or may be a drive provided on the network when connected to the network.

  The bookbinding application 104 reads an electronic original file (or book file) 103 and provides a user with a function for editing the electronic original file (or book file) 103. However, the bookbinding application 104 does not provide a function for editing the contents of each page, but provides a function for editing the structure of a chapter or book composed of pages as a minimum unit.

  When the book file 103 edited by the bookbinding application 104 is printed, the bookbinding application 104 activates the electronic document despooler 105. The electronic document despooler 105 is a program module installed in the computer together with the bookbinding application. The electronic document despooler 105 is a module used for outputting drawing data to a printer driver when printing a document (book file) used in a bookbinding application. The electronic manuscript despooler 105 reads out a designated book file from the hard disk and generates an output command suitable for the OS output module described above to print each page in the format described in the book file. Output to the output module. At that time, the printer driver 106 for the printer 107 used as the output device is designated as the device driver. The above-described output module converts the received output command into a device command and outputs the device command to the designated printer driver 106 for the printer 107, and the printer driver 106 converts the command into a command such as a page description language that can be interpreted by the printer 107. Convert. The converted command is transmitted from the printer driver 106 to the printer 107 via a system spooler (not shown), and the printer 107 prints an image corresponding to the command.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the computer 100. In FIG. 2, a CPU 201 executes programs such as an OS, a general application, and a bookbinding application loaded from the ROM 203 or the hard disk 211 to the RAM 202, and realizes the software configuration of FIG. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. A keyboard controller (KBC) 205 controls key input from a keyboard 209 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 206 controls display on the CRT display 210. A disk controller (DKC) 207 controls access to a hard disk (HD) 211, a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), and the like that store a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edit files (to be described later), and the like. To do. The PRTC 208 controls the exchange of signals with the connected printer 107. The NC 212 is connected to the network and executes communication control processing with other devices connected to the network.

[Format of electronic manuscript data]
Before referring to details of the editing application 104, the data format of the book file will be described. The book file has a three-layer structure that mimics a paper medium book. First, the upper layer is called a “book”, imitating one book, and attributes related to the book in general are defined. The middle layer below it corresponds to the chapter in the book and is also called “chapter”. For each chapter, attributes for each chapter can be defined. The lower layer is “page”, which corresponds to each page defined by the application program. For each page, attributes for each page can be defined. Further, one book may include a plurality of chapters, and one chapter may include a plurality of pages.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a book file format. As shown in the figure, in this example, the book, chapter, and page in the book file are indicated by corresponding nodes. One book file contains one book. Since the book and chapter are concepts for defining the structure of the book, they include defined attribute values and links to lower layers as entities. The page has data for each page output by the application program as an entity. Therefore, a page includes a document page entity (document page data) and a link to each document page data in addition to the attribute value.

  Note that a print page when outputting to a paper medium or the like may include a plurality of document pages. This structure is not displayed by a link, but is displayed as an attribute in each hierarchy of a book, chapter, and page.

  In FIG. 3, a book 301 has a book attribute defined therein and two chapters 302A and 302B are linked. By this link, it is displayed that chapters 302A and 302B are included in book 301. The chapter 302A is linked to pages 303A and 303B, indicating that these pages are included. Each page 303A, 303B has an attribute value defined, and includes links to the original document page data (1), (2). These links indicate the data (1) and (2) of the original page data 304 as shown in (B) of FIG. 3, and the entities of the pages 303A and 303B are the original page data (1) and (2). Is displayed.

  FIG. 4 is a list of book attributes. For items that can be defined overlapping with the lower layer, the attribute value of the lower layer is preferentially adopted. Therefore, for items included only in the book attribute, the value defined in the book attribute becomes a valid value throughout the book. However, items that overlap the lower layer have meanings as default values when they are not defined in the lower layer. Each illustrated item does not specifically correspond to one item, but may include a plurality of related items.

  5 is a list of chapter attributes, and FIG. 6 is a list of page attributes. The relationship between chapter attributes and page attributes is the same as the relationship between book attributes and lower layer attributes.

  As is apparent from FIGS. 4 to 6, items unique to the book attributes are six items: printing method, bookbinding details, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break. These are items defined throughout the book. As printing method attributes, three values of single-sided printing, double-sided printing, and bookbinding printing can be designated. Here, bookbinding printing is a method of printing in a format that allows bookbinding by bundling a separately designated number of sheets into two and folding the bundle. As the bookbinding details attribute, when bookbinding printing is designated, the spread direction, the number of sheets to be bundled, and the like can be designated.

  The front cover / back cover attribute includes designation of adding sheets as a front cover and a back cover when printing an electronic document file to be collected as a book, and designation of print contents on the added sheet. The index sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of index sheets with ears separately prepared in the printing apparatus as chapter breaks and designation of print contents in the index (ear) portion. This attribute can be used when a printing device used by an inserter having an insert function for inserting a sheet prepared separately from the printing sheet into a desired position, or a plurality of paper cassettes can be used. Effective in some cases. The same applies to the slip sheet attribute.

  The slip sheet attribute includes designation of insertion of a sheet supplied from an inserter or a sheet feed cassette as a chapter break, and designation of a sheet feed source when a slip sheet is inserted.

  The chapter break attribute includes designation of whether to use a new sheet, use a new print page, or do nothing in particular at the chapter break. During single-sided printing, the use of a new paper and the use of a new print page have the same meaning. In double-sided printing, if “use new paper” is specified, consecutive chapters will not be printed on one sheet, but if “use new print page” is specified, consecutive chapters will be 1 It may be printed on the front and back of a sheet of paper.

  As for chapter attributes, there are no items unique to chapters, and all items overlap with book attributes. Therefore, if the definition in the chapter attribute is different from the definition in the book attribute, the value defined in the chapter attribute has priority. Items common only to the book attribute and chapter attribute are five items: paper size, paper orientation, N-up printing designation, enlargement / reduction, and paper discharge method. Among these, the N-up print designation attribute is an item for designating the number of document pages included in one print page. Examples of arrangements that can be specified include 1 × 1, 1 × 2, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, and 4 × 4. The paper discharge method attribute is an item for designating whether or not stapling is performed on the discharged paper, and the validity of this attribute depends on whether the printing apparatus to be used has a stapling function.

  Items unique to the page attribute include a page rotation attribute, zoom, layout designation, annotation, and page division. The page rotation attribute is an item for designating a rotation angle when placing an original page on a print page. The zoom attribute is an item for designating the scaling factor of the original page. The scaling factor is specified with the size of the virtual logical page area as 100%. The virtual logical page area is an area occupied by one original page when the original page is arranged in accordance with designation of Nup or the like. For example, if it is 1 × 1, the virtual logical page area is an area corresponding to one print page, and if it is 1 × 2, each side of one print page is an area reduced to about 70%.

  Attributes common to the book, chapter, and page include a watermark attribute and a header / footer attribute. Here, the watermark is a separately designated image or character string that is printed over data created by an application. The header / footer is a watermark printed on the upper margin and the lower margin of each page. However, items that can be specified by variables such as page numbers and date / time are prepared in the header / footer. The contents that can be specified in the watermark attribute and the header / footer attribute are common to the chapter and the page, but the book is different from them. In the book, the contents of the watermark and header / footer can be set, and how the watermark, header and footer are printed throughout the book can be specified. On the other hand, for a chapter or page, whether or not to print a watermark or header / footer set in the book can be specified for the chapter or page.

[Book file generation procedure]
The book file has the structure and contents as described above. Next, a book file creation procedure by the bookbinding application 104 and the electronic document writer 102 will be described. The book file creation procedure is realized as part of the book file editing operation by the bookbinding application 104.

  FIG. 7 shows a procedure when the bookbinding application 104 opens a book file. Each step in the flowchart of the present application is executed by the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus. First, the bookbinding application determines whether the book file to be opened is to be newly created or is an existing one (step S701). If it is determined that the bookbinding application is newly created, a book file that does not include a chapter is newly created (step S702). In the example of FIG. 3, the newly created book file is a book node that has only the book node 301 and does not have a link to the chapter node. As the book attribute, a set of attributes prepared in advance for new creation is applied. Then, the bookbinding application displays a user interface (UI) screen for editing the new book file (step S703). FIG. 11 shows an example of a UI screen when a book file is newly created. In this case, since the book file has no substantial content, nothing is displayed on the UI screen 1100.

  On the other hand, if there is an existing book file, the designated book file is opened (step S703), and a user interface (UI) screen is displayed according to the structure, attributes, and contents of the book file. FIG. 10 is an example of a UI screen that displays a book file designated from an existing book file. The UI screen 1100 includes a tree portion 1101 that shows a book structure, and a preview portion 1102 that displays a printed state. The tree portion 1101 displays chapters included in the book and pages included in each chapter in a tree structure as shown in FIG. A page displayed in the tree portion 1101 is a manuscript page. In the preview area 1102, the contents of the print page are reduced and displayed. The display order reflects the book structure.

  In the opened book file, application data converted into an electronic manuscript file by the electronic manuscript writer 102 can be added as a new chapter. This function is called an electronic document import function. By importing an electronic document into a newly created book file by the procedure shown in FIG. 7, an entity is given to the book file. This function is activated by dragging and dropping application data on the screen of FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows an electronic document import procedure. First, the bookbinding application starts an application program that generates designated application data. Then, the bookbinding application converts the electronic document data by designating the electronic document writer 102 as a device driver and printing out the application data (step S801). When the conversion is completed, the bookbinding application determines whether or not the converted data is image data (step S802). This determination is made based on the file extension of the application data under the Windows OS. For example, if the extension is “bmp”, it is determined to be Windows bitmap data, if “jpg”, it is determined to be jpg compressed image data, and if “tiff”, it is determined to be image data in the tif format. In the case of such image data, since it is possible to generate an electronic document file directly from the image data without starting an application as in S8010, the processing in S801 can be omitted.

  If the data is not image data, the bookbinding application adds the electronic document file generated in step S801 as a new chapter to the book of the currently opened book file (step S803). As the chapter attribute, the value of the book attribute is copied for those that are common to the book attribute, and for those that are not, the preset value is set in advance.

  In the case of image data in step S802, the bookbinding application does not add a new chapter in principle, but adds each original page included in the electronic original file generated in step S801 to the designated chapter. (Step S804). However, if the book file is a newly created file, a new chapter is created, and each page of the electronic document file is added as a page belonging to the chapter. As for the page attribute, an attribute value is given to an attribute common to the upper layer attribute, and a value is given to an attribute that inherits the attribute defined in the application data in the electronic document file. For example, when Nup designation or the like is designated in the application data, the attribute value is inherited. In this way, a new book file is created or a new chapter is added.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a procedure for generating an electronic document file by the electronic document writer 102 in step S801 shown in FIG. First, the bookbinding application creates a new electronic document file and opens it (step S901). The bookbinding application activates an application corresponding to the designated application data, and transmits an output command to the OS output module using the electronic document writer as a device driver. The output module converts the received output command into electronic document format data by the electronic document writer 102 and outputs the converted data (step S902). The output destination is the electronic document file opened in step S901. The bookbinding application determines whether conversion has been completed for all designated data (step S903), and if completed, closes the electronic document file (step S904). The electronic manuscript file generated by the electronic manuscript writer 102 is a file including the manuscript page data entity shown in FIG.

[Edit book file]
As described above, a book file can be created from application data. With respect to the generated book file, the following editing operations are possible for chapters and pages.
(1) New addition (2) Delete (3) Copy (4) Cut (5) Paste (6) Move (7) Rename chapter (8) Rename page number (9) Insert cover (10) Insert paper Insert (11) Insert index paper (12) Page layout for each original page

  In addition, an operation for canceling an editing operation once performed, and an operation for redoing the canceled operation are possible. With these editing functions, for example, integration of multiple book files, rearrangement of chapters and pages in the book file, deletion of chapters and pages in the book file, layout change of manuscript pages, insertion of slip sheets and index sheets, etc. Operation becomes possible. When these operations are performed, the operation results are reflected in the attributes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or in the book file structure. For example, if a blank page new addition operation is performed, a blank page is inserted at a designated location. This blank page is treated as a manuscript page. If the layout of the original page is changed, the changed content is reflected in attributes such as a printing method, N-up printing, front / back cover, index paper, slip sheet, and chapter break.

[Output book file]
The book file created and edited as described above has a final purpose of print output. Here, when the user selects a file menu from the UI screen 1100 of the bookbinding application shown in FIG. 10 and selects print from there, the output is printed by the designated output device. At this time, the bookbinding application 104 first creates a job ticket from the currently opened book file, and passes the job ticket to the electronic document despooler 105. On the other hand, the electronic document despooler 105 converts the job ticket into an OS output command, for example, a Windows GDI function, and transmits it to an output module, for example, GDI. The output module generates a command suitable for the device by the designated printer driver 106 and transmits the command to the device.

Here, the job ticket is data having a structure in which the original page is a minimum unit. The structure in the job ticket defines the layout of the manuscript page on the paper. One job ticket is issued per job. For this reason, there is a document node at the top, and attributes of the entire document, such as double-sided printing / single-sided printing, are defined. Below that, a paper node belongs, and includes attributes such as an identifier of a paper to be used and designation of a paper feed port in the printer. Each paper node includes a node of a sheet printed on the paper. One sheet corresponds to one sheet. A print page (physical page) belongs to each sheet. For single-sided printing, one physical page belongs to one sheet, and for double-sided printing, two physical pages belong to one sheet. Each physical page has an original page arranged thereon. The physical page attribute includes the layout of the original page.
The electronic document despooler 105 converts the above-described job ticket into an output command to the output module.

[Other system configurations]
The outline of the document processing system of this embodiment is as described above. Although this is a stand-alone system, a book file can be created and edited with almost the same configuration and procedure even on a server client system that is an expanded system. However, book files and print processing are managed by the server.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server client type document processing system. The client document processing system has a configuration in which a DOMS driver 109, a DOMS print service module 110, and a DS (document service) client module 108, which are client modules, are added to a stand-alone system. Note that DOMS is Document Output Management Service (document output management service). A document management server 1201, a print central management server 1202, and a print server 1203 are connected to the client document processing system 1200. These servers are normally connected to the client document processing system via a network, but are connected by inter-process communication that simulates communication between networks when the server also functions as a client at the same time.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, both the document management server 1201 and the print central management server 1202 are connected to the client, but only one of them may exist on the network.

  The document management server 1201 is a server that stores book files created and edited by the bookbinding application 104. When a book file is managed by the document management server 1201, the book file is stored in the database 1211 of the document management server 1201 instead of or in addition to the local HD of the client PC. Saving and reading of book files between the bookbinding application 104 and the document management server 1201 are performed via the DS client 108 and the DS core 1212.

  The print central management server 1202 is a server that manages printing of book files stored in the client document management system 1200 or stored in the document management server 1201. The print request in the client is transmitted to the DOMSWG server module 1221 of the print central management server 1202 via the DOMS driver 109 and the DOMS print service module 110. The centralized print management server 1202 passes electronic document data to the electronic document despooler 105 via the client's DOMS print service module 110 when printing is performed by a client printer. On the other hand, when printing is performed by the print server 1203, the centralized print management server 1202 transmits to the DOMS print service module 1203 of the print server 1203. For example, the centralized print management server performs a security check on the qualification of the user who issued the print request to the saved book file, and saves a print processing log. As described above, the document processing system can be realized as a stand-alone or a client-server system.

[Contents of preview display]
As described above, when the book file is opened by the bookbinding application, the user interface screen 1100 shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. The tree portion 1101 displays a tree showing the structure of an open book (hereinafter referred to as “target book”). In the preview section, three display methods are prepared according to the user's designation. First, a mode called a document view that displays a document page as it is. In this document view mode, the content of the document page belonging to the book of interest is reduced and displayed. Note that the layout is not reflected in the display of the preview unit 1102. Next, the second is a print view mode. In the print view mode, the document page is displayed on the preview unit 1102 in a form that reflects the layout of the document page. The third is a simple print view mode. In this simple print view mode, the contents of each original page are not reflected in the display of the preview portion, but only the layout is reflected.

[Staple control]
Next, stapling control performed by the bookbinding application 104 of the computer 100 connected to a printer having a stapling function will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the staple control system. As shown in the figure, the staple control system includes the host computer 100 shown in FIG. 2 and a printer 107 having a staple function.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer 107 will be described. If the function of the present invention is realized, a single device or a system composed of a plurality of devices can be connected and processed via a network such as a LAN or WAN. The present invention can be applied even to a system.

  As shown, in the printer 107, reference numeral 1301 denotes a printer CPU. The CPU outputs an image signal as output information to the printing unit (printer engine) 1306 via the printing unit I / F 1305 connected to the system bus 1304 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 1302 or the external memory 1303. To do. The program ROM in the ROM 1302 stores a control program for the CPU 1301 and the like. In addition, the font ROM in the ROM 1302 stores font data used when generating output information. The data ROM in the ROM 1302 stores information used on the host computer 100 in the case of a printer having no external memory 1303 such as a hard disk.

  The CPU 1301 can perform communication processing with the host computer 100 via the input unit 1307 and can notify the host computer 100 of information in the printer 107 and the like. The RAM 1308 is a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like of the CPU 1301 and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

  The RAM 1308 is used as an output information expansion area, environment data storage area, NVRAM, and the like. Access to the above-described external memory 1303 such as a hard disk (HD) or IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 1309. The external memory 1303 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. In addition, the operation panel 1311 includes switches for operation, LED indicators, and the like.

  The external memory 1303 described above is not limited to one, and a plurality of external memories 1303 are provided. In addition to the built-in font, a plurality of external memories storing option cards and programs for interpreting printer control languages with different language systems can be connected. May be. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided, and printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1311 may be stored.

[Composition of case binding]
An illustration of case binding is shown in FIG. In general, case binding is composed of a cover 1409 and a middle paper 1403. Case binding refers to a bookbinding method such as 1408, in which the back portion 1402 is glued and glued with a cover and bound. In the case of a left-open bookbinding printed material, the portion 1404 corresponding to the first cover is called Table 1, the back 1405 of Table 1 is called Table 2, the back 1407 of the back cover is called Table 3, and the surface of the back cover 1401 is called Table 4. In the case of right-opening, the left and right are symmetrical, and 1401 is referred to as Table 1, 1407 as Table 2, 1405 as Table 3, and 1404 as Table 4.

  In order to place the original on the cover and align the position of the middle paper with the position of the front cover, it is necessary to create Tables 1 to 4 with the same original size as the middle paper. FIG. 15 shows a case where Tables 1 to 4 and the middle paper are all prepared with the same original size. 1501 is Table 1, 1502 is Table 2, 1503 is medium paper, 1504 is Table 3, and 1505 is Table 4. FIG. 16 shows a flow for laying out this on the output paper.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for creating a layout for executing case binding when all documents are submitted with the same document size. First, the bookbinding application submits data to be a document (S1601). The bookbinding application selects a sheet selected by the user via the operation screen as a sheet for printing the submitted document data, and sets a layout (S1602).

  The bookbinding application calculates the sheet thickness and the number of output sheets required for the middle sheet from the set sheet and layout. The paper thickness may be a value obtained from the thickness assigned to the paper, or may be a value obtained by calculation from the basis weight (S1603). In addition, basic weight refers to the mass per unit area.

  The bookbinding application multiplies the sheet thickness per sheet by the number of sheets to obtain the spine width (S1604). Although not described here, an arbitrary coefficient may be multiplied when the sheet thickness changes when the case binding is glued.

  The bookbinding application inserts the spine width obtained in S1604 between Tables 1 and 4, and Tables 2 and 3 (S1605), and executes layout processing (S1606). Arbitrary text or images may be inserted into the back portion formed between Table 1 and Table 4. Then, the bookbinding application outputs the layout data for the front cover and the middle page (S1607).

  Next, the paper layout process executed in S1606 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 17, B is the spine width obtained in S1604 of FIG. T is the thickness per sheet, and N is the number of sheets.

  Reference numeral 1701 denotes an output sheet used as a cover. Reference numeral 1702 denotes an output sheet used as a middle sheet. In the cover data to be laid out on the cover 1701, the margin B area calculated in S1604 is left between Table 1 and Table 4 to obtain a finished page area (1703). Accordingly, the width of the finished page area is “2 × W + B” and the height is “H”. That is, the bookbinding application generates output data in which the page data to be used as a cover is included in the received document data and is laid out with a blank space calculated in S1604. The same applies to the back surface. The bookbinding application creates a finished page area with a margin B area between Tables 2 and 3, and generates data to be arranged on the back side of the output paper 1701. A medium original 1503 is placed on the medium paper 1702 and printed. A similar case can be considered in which only the front cover is created on one side, and the back cover and the middle original are created in a finished size.

  FIG. 18 shows a flow for creating a layout in case binding in which only the front cover arranged on the outer side is created on one side, and the back cover and the middle original are created in a bookbinding size different from the front cover.

  The bookbinding application submits cover original data and medium original data corresponding to the text (S1801). The bookbinding application selects a sheet on which the submitted document data is to be printed, and sets a layout (S1802). The bookbinding application calculates the sheet thickness per sheet and the number of output sheets necessary for the middle sheet from the set sheet and layout (S1803). The bookbinding application multiplies the sheet thickness by the number of sheets to obtain the spine width (S1804). The bookbinding application inserts the spine width calculated in S1804 between Table 2 and Table 3 (S1805), and executes layout processing (S1806). Then, data for the laid out cover sheet and middle sheet is generated (S1807).

FIG. 19 shows a cover layout method. In FIG. 18, B is the spine width obtained in S1804 of FIG. T is the thickness per sheet, and N is the number of sheets.
Reference numeral 1905 denotes an output sheet used as a cover. Reference numeral 1906 denotes an output sheet used as a middle sheet.

  In the cover data to be laid out inside the cover, a blank B calculated in S1804 is left between Table 2 (1902) and Table 3 (1904) to make a finished page area (1907). Therefore, the width of the finished page area is 2 × W + B and the height is H. The finished page area is laid out on the output sheet 1905 and printed. Cover document data 1901 is printed in the center on the surface of output paper 1905.

  As a result, even if the front cover and back cover change depending on the thickness of the middle paper and the number of sheets, the print position of the front cover and the back cover is not misaligned, and a well-bound bookbinding print can be created. .

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, a process for determining a cover layout based on submitted manuscript data and set print appearance information will be described.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an output result output by executing the case binding process printing process. In case binding, output results of a cover 2001 for wrapping the text that is the contents and the text 2002 that is the contents are required.

  The manufacturing process of case binding is shown in FIG. Cover binding is executed by applying glue to the side of the inner paper 2002 to be bound, pasting it to the center of the front cover 2001, and wrapping the inner paper 2002 with the front cover 2001. In general, the bookbinding is finished in three-way trimming.

[How to create a case binding]
An overall flow executed by the bookbinding application of the present application is shown in FIG.
The bookbinding application receives document data including a cover and page data to be printed from the general application shown in FIG. 1 (S2201). Then, the bookbinding application recognizes the user setting and sets the print format for the document data (S2202). Then, the bookbinding application calculates the spine width based on the submitted document data and the set print format (S2203), and creates a cover data area (S2204).

[Appearance Settings]
The processing related to the appearance setting executed in S2202 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 23 and 32 to 33.

  The bookbinding application recognizes the finished size F set by the operator using the setting screen 3200 of FIG. 32 (S2301). As shown in FIG. 24, the finished size F includes information on “finished size width” Fw and “finished size height” Fh. The finished size F is a size specified at the time of ordering. FIG. 32 will be described. The bookbinding application displays a setting screen 3200 of FIG. 32 by a predetermined operation. The finished size is selected on the setting screen 3200 in FIG. The finished size is selected using a finished size setting item 3201. In FIG. 32, the A3 size is set. In addition, in FIG. 32, output format information of the text can be set in addition. An item 3202 for setting the type of imposition is displayed as an example of output format information.

  The bookbinding application determines whether or not case binding is set by the user (S2302). In FIG. 32, by selecting the “finish” 3203 of the tab, the setting screen 3300 of FIG. 33 is displayed. In FIG. 33, when the operator selects “case” via the binding setting item 3301, case binding is set. Further, the operator sets the print format information of the cover based on the submitted manuscript data. Note that the print format information of the cover is set via an item 3302. In FIG. 33, “front × back: 2 × 2” is set. Note that the cover print format information setting process in FIG. 33 will be described later with reference to FIG. In FIG. 33, “front × back: 2 × 2” is described, but “front × back: 1 × 2”, “front × back: 2 × 1”, etc., which will be described later with reference to FIG. Can be selected. In addition, FIG. 33 includes a finishing setting item 3303 described later in FIG. In this way, since the bookbinding application executes layout processing for a cover including a back cover, a layout input as a cover layout type to be used at the time of output from a plurality of cover layout types via the setting screen 3300 in FIG. Set the type.

  When case binding is set in step S2302, the book setting described above is case binding. Further, in S2303, the bookbinding application sets the media type of the physical page (S2303), and acquires the thickness of the set media type.

  The bookbinding application sets the arrangement order of document data and the layout of case binding middle sheets (S2304).

[Calculate spine width]
With reference to FIG. 25, the “calculate spine width” process executed in S2203 will be described in detail.

  Based on the page data included in the document data and the output format information set in S2202, the bookbinding application measures the number of physical pages to be output (P: output number) (S2501).

  The bookbinding application acquires the paper thickness Tj from the media type set in S2303 (S2502). It is assumed that the paper thickness for each media type is managed in advance by the RAM 202 or the like.

  The bookbinding application calculates the back width B based on the number of output sheets calculated in S2601 and the thickness Tj of the paper type for output included in the output format information (S2503). In the present application, as a method for calculating the spine width, a process of adding the acquired sheet thickness by the number of physical pages is executed.

  As described above, the spine size is automatically calculated based on the number of pages output by the processing of FIG. 25 and the sheet thickness.

[Cover data area creation]
The “create cover data area” process executed in S2204 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The bookbinding application multiplies the spine width B obtained in S2503 by the “finished size height” Fh obtained in S2301 in FIG. 23 to obtain the spine cover size: S (S2601). The process of S2601 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 27, the back cover B calculated in S2503 corresponds to the horizontal size of the spine, and the “finished size height” Fh acquired in S2301 corresponds to the vertical size of the spine. Therefore, when calculating the size (area) of the spine, it is clear that it is calculated by B × Fh.

  The bookbinding application obtains the cover size: C using the spine cover size: S calculated in S2601 and the finished size: F specified by the user (S2602). The process of S2602 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. For the cover size, the cover region 2801 and the cover region 2802 are taken into consideration, and the back cover size S2803 is taken into consideration. That is, the cover size is the sum of the cover area 2801, the cover area 2802, and the spine cover size S2803, which is the cover size: C2804.

  As described above, it is possible to create a drawing area for cover data of case binding. Further, in the process of creating case binding, when the number of medium sheets is increased or decreased, or when the media type is changed and the sheet thickness is changed, the calculation process of S2502 may be performed again.

[Layout]
Next, a cover layout method for the cover size C calculated in FIG. 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 29A to 29C.
First, 2900 will be described.

A user (operator) operating the bookbinding application can recognize that all pages are page data of the same size when the manuscript data 2901 is submitted. Since the submitted document data is previewed as described above with reference to FIG. 10, the user can easily confirm the page data included in the document data. In the print format setting process, the user places two pages of page data in the front cover area (corresponding to 1401 and 1404 in FIG. 14), and the back cover area (corresponding to 1405 and 1407 in FIG. 14). It is determined that two pages of page data are arranged. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 2 × 2” via the item 3302 of the setting screen of FIG. 33 as the appearance setting of the cover. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the first and last pages of the received document data in the front cover area 2902, and the second page of the document data and the page one page before the last page are in the back cover area 2903. Layout. That is, the bookbinding application lays out the page data determined according to the set cover layout type according to the set cover layout type.
Next, 2904 will be described.

The user operating the bookbinding application can recognize that one page data (Table 2 and Table 3) is submitted in a different size from other page data when the document data 2905 is submitted. . The user recognizes that the page data in Tables 2 and 3 are the cover on the back side from the original data, so that in the print format setting process, the page data for two pages is placed in the cover area on the front side. It is determined that one page of page data is arranged in the cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 2 × 1” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the first page and the last page of the received original data in the front cover area 2906, and the page data of Table 2 and Table 3 corresponding to the second page of the original data is the back cover area 2907. Layout.
Next, 2908 will be described.

A user operating a bookbinding application can recognize that one page data (Table 4 and Table 1) is submitted in a different size from other page data when the document data 2909 is submitted. . By recognizing that the page data of Table 4 and Table 1 is the front cover from the original data, the user arranges page data for one page in the front cover area in the print format setting process, and It is determined that two pages of page data are arranged in the cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 1 × 2” as the cover appearance setting. According to this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of Table 4 and Table 1 corresponding to the first page of the received document data in the front cover area 2910, and the page data of the second page of the document data and the page data of the last page on the reverse side. Lay out in the cover area 2911.
Subsequently, 2912 will be described.

When the manuscript data 2913 is submitted, the user operating the bookbinding application submits the two page data (Table 4, Table 1, and Table 2, Table 3) in a different size from the other page data. Can be recognized. The user recognizes that the page data of Table 4 and Table 1 is the cover data of the table and the page data of Table 2 and Table 3 is the back cover data, so that the table and It is determined that page data for one page is arranged in the back cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 1 × 1” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page of the received document data in the front cover area 2914, and lays out the page data of the second page of the document data in the back cover area 2915.
Subsequently, 2916 will be described.

When the manuscript data 2917 is submitted, the user operating the bookbinding application can recognize that one page data (Table 4 and Table 1) is submitted in a size different from that of other page data. . If the user recognizes from the document data that the page data in Tables 4 and 1 is the front cover and determines that the page data to be placed in the back cover area is not included, the print format In the setting process, one page of page data is arranged in the front cover area. Then, the user decides not to arrange page data in the back cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 1 × 0” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the first page of the received document data in the front cover area 2918 and does not lay out page data in the back cover area 2919.
Next, 2920 will be described.

The user operating the bookbinding application can recognize that one page data (Table 2 and Table 3) is submitted in a different size from other page data when the document data 2921 is submitted. . If the user recognizes from the document data that the page data in Tables 2 and 3 is the back cover and determines that the page data to be placed in the cover area of the front is not included, the print format In the setting process, page data is not arranged in the front cover area. Then, the user decides to arrange one page of page data in the back cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 0 × 1” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the first page of the received document data in the back cover area 2923 and does not lay out page data in the front cover area 2922.
Next, 2924 will be described.

A user operating a bookbinding application can recognize that all pages are page data of the same size when the document data 2925 is submitted. If the user determines from the original data that the page data to be arranged on the front cover is not included in the original data 2925, the page data is not arranged in the front cover area in the print format setting process. It is determined that two pages of page data are arranged in the back cover area. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 0 × 2” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application does not lay out the page data in the front cover area 2926 but lays out the first page of the original data and the cover area 2927 behind the last page.
Subsequently, 2928 will be described.

The user operating the bookbinding application can recognize that all pages are page data of the same size when the document data 2929 is submitted. If the user determines from the document data that the page data to be arranged on the back cover is not included in the document data 2929, the user places two pages of page data in the front cover area, and the back cover area Decide not to place page data in Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 2 × 0” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application lays out the cover page 2930 of the first page and last page of the document data, and does not lay out page data in the back cover area 2931.
Subsequently, 2932 will be described.

  A user operating the bookbinding application can recognize that all pages are page data of the same size when the manuscript data 2933 is submitted. If the user determines from the original data that the page data to be arranged on the cover page is not included in the original data 2933, the user does not arrange the page data in the front and back cover areas in the print format setting process. decide. Therefore, the user sets “front × back: 0 × 0” as the cover appearance setting. In accordance with this setting, the bookbinding application does not lay out page data in the front cover area 2934 and the back cover area 2935.

Thus, after confirming the submitted page data, the user sets the appearance information of the cover via FIG. Further, the bookbinding application executes a layout process including the cover area from the input manuscript data in accordance with the set cover appearance information.
Next, a method for arranging page data in which a cover area to be arranged is determined will be described.

  When arranging page data for two pages in one printing area, the bookbinding application arranges each page data in the finished area F excluding the spine area S in the drawing area obtained in S2602. The spine is drawn in the spine area S. If the cover is left-open, the first data is arranged on the right side of the cover data area, and if it is right-open, the first data is arranged on the left side of the cover data area.

  When arranging page data for one page in one print area, the bookbinding application arranges page data for one page at the center of the cover area C including the spine area S in the drawing area obtained in S2602.

When there is no page data to be arranged in one print area, the bookbinding application does not arrange page data in the drawing area obtained in S2602. Note that the bookbinding application may execute a layout process for the cover area based on the page data determined by the description of FIG. 29 and the spine area size specified in FIG.
A layout processing method for the cover area shown in FIG. 29 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the bookbinding application, there is “front × back: 2 × 2” in which the set appearance information places two pages of page data in the front cover area and two pages of page data in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3101). If it is determined in S3101 that “front × back: 2 × 2” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page and the last page included in the document data in the front cover area. Further, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the second page included in the document data and the page data immediately before the last page in the back cover area (S3102).

  In the bookbinding application, there is “front × back: 2 × 1” in which the set appearance information arranges page data for two pages in the front cover area and page data for one page in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3103). If it is determined in S3103 that “front side × back side: 2 × 1” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page and the last page included in the document data in the front cover area. Further, the bookbinding application lays out the second page included in the document data in the back cover area (S3104).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 1 × 2” is set, in which the set appearance information places one page of page data in the front cover area and two pages of page data in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3105). If it is determined in S3105 that “front × back: 1 × 2” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the first page included in the document data in the front cover area. Further, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the second page and the page data of the last page included in the document data in the back cover area (S3106).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 0 × 2” is set, in which page data for 0 pages is arranged in the front cover area and page data for two pages is arranged in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3107). If it is determined in S3101 that “front × back: 0 × 2” is set, the bookbinding application uses the page data of the first page and the page data of the last page included in the document data in the back cover area. Layout is performed (S3108).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 2 × 0” is set, in which the format information is set to arrange page data for two pages in the front cover area and page data for zero pages in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3109). If it is determined in S3109 that “front × back: 2 × 0” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page and the last page included in the document data in the front cover area ( S3110).

  The bookbinding application determines whether the set appearance information is set to “front × back: 0 × 0” in which page data for 0 pages is arranged in the front and back cover areas (S3111). If it is determined in S3111 that “front × back: 0 × 0” is set, the bookbinding application does not lay out the page data in the front and back cover areas (S3112).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 1 × 1” is set, in which the set appearance information arranges page data for one page in the front cover area and page data for one page in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3113). If it is determined in S3113 that “front side × back side: 1 × 1” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the first page included in the document data in the front cover area. Further, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the second page included in the document data in the back cover area (S3114).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 1 × 0” is set, in which the page information for one page is arranged in the front cover area and the page data for zero pages is arranged in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3115). If it is determined in S3115 that “front × back: 1 × 0” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page included in the document data in the front cover area (S3116).

  In the bookbinding application, “front × back: 0 × 1” is set, in which page data for 0 pages is arranged in the front cover area and page data for one page is arranged in the back cover area. It is determined whether it is set (S3117). If it is determined in S3117 that “front × back: 0 × 1” is set, the bookbinding application lays out the page data of the first page included in the document data in the back cover area (S3118).

  As described above, the bookbinding application determines page data to be laid out in the cover area from the page data included in the received document data based on the set cover layout type. As a result, the worker does not have to assign page data page by page, and the work efficiency can be improved.

[Back cover drawing method]
The bookbinding application can draw text data or image data on the spine area. The spine area 3000 includes a plurality of areas in which text data or image data is to be drawn, and the bookbinding application draws text data or image data in the selected drawing area. As an example of the drawing area, as shown in FIG. 30, “upper left / upper / upper right / left / center / right / lower left / lower / lower right” 3001 can be selected.

  A spine drawing method will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the spine cover 3000 of FIG. 30, nine areas 3001 are set in the spine cover area. The bookbinding application draws text data or image data in the selected area. The bookbinding application can also change the drawing area size in accordance with an instruction from the user. Further, each drawing area holds position information with respect to the spine cover area (for example, the upper left drawing area is a position moved by 5 mm in the vertical and horizontal directions from the upper left point of the spine cover area). Therefore, the bookbinding application can also change the position of the drawing area in accordance with the change in the specified spine cover area size.

[Cutting command generation method]
The bookbinding application determines to execute the cutting process after the case binding is performed as described above with reference to FIG. Therefore, a method in which the bookbinding application generates a command for executing the cutting process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The bookbinding application determines whether or not the selected post-printing processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as finisher) is an offline finisher (S3401). The user can select the type of finisher using the setting item 3303 of the setting UI shown in FIG. By selecting the pull-down menu of the setting item 3303, options such as “wrap with gluing / cover (inline finisher)” and “wrap with gluing / cover (offline finisher)” are displayed. Since the content selected via FIG. 33 is held in the RAM 202 or the like, the bookbinding application can realize the processing in S3401 by referring to the RAM 202. Here, the types of finishers will be described.

(1) Inline finisher: a post-processing device in which a paper path is physically connected to a printer, and operation instructions and status confirmation are also electrically connected to the printer.
(2) Nearline finisher: The paper path is not connected to the printer, and the operator (operator) carries the output, but the operation instructions and status confirmation can be electrically transmitted and received via communication means such as a network. Post-processing equipment.
(3) Off-line finisher: Communication means such as paper path and operation instructions and status confirmation are not connected to the printer at all, and the operator transports the output, sets the output, inputs the operation manually, and the device itself Post-processing device that allows workers to visually check status reports.

  If it is determined in S3401 that the offline finisher has been selected, the bookbinding application outputs drawing data for the cover based on the cover layout determined in the process of FIG. 31 to the printer driver via the electronic document despooler (S3407). . At this time, the bookbinding application also outputs the output paper size for the cover.

  The bookbinding application outputs text drawing data based on the imposition method set using the UI of FIG. 32 to the printer driver via the electronic document despooler (S3408). At this time, the bookbinding application outputs the output paper size for the text.

  When it is recognized that the cutting process is performed using the offline finisher, the bookbinding application may generate drawing data in which a mark indicating a position to be cut is drawn on the drawing data for the cover.

  On the other hand, if the offline finisher is not selected, the bookbinding application determines whether a printer driver that can be supported by the bookbinding application is selected (S3402). As an example of a specific determination method, determination is made based on whether or not the bookbinding application can recognize the DEVMODE extended area of the selected printer driver. Note that DEVMODE is a structure file defined by the Windows (registered trademark) OS, holds various print settings, and is read by the printer driver during print processing and used to generate print data. In the extended area of DEVMODE, special processing information that is not supported by the Windows (registered trademark) OS such as “case binding processing” is stored. In S3402, a determination process is executed based on whether the bookbinding application can recognize the processing information described in the DEVMODE extension area of the selected printer driver.

  If it is determined in S3402 that a printer driver that can be supported is not selected, the bookbinding application displays that the case binding process cannot be executed (S3403).

  When a printer driver that can be supported in S3402 is selected, the bookbinding application prints the cover output paper size specified in FIG. 33, the finished size calculated in FIG. 23, and the cutting process command via the despooler. The data is output to the driver (S3404).

  Processing of the printer (inline finisher) that has received the print data generated by the printer driver based on the information in S3404 will be described. For example, the inline finisher determines a folding position for executing the folding process. The inline finisher can obtain an output result of the finished size by performing the cutting process at the finished size position with respect to the folding position. As for the vertical direction of the print result, the output result of the finished size can be obtained by combining the center point of the printed result and the center point of the finished size and cutting the difference.

  Then, the bookbinding application outputs cover drawing data based on the cover layout determined in the process of FIG. 31 to the printer driver via the despooler (S3405).

  That is, the bookbinding application generates a book file (also referred to as bookbinding print data) including drawing data for a cover whose layout for the cover area is determined.

  Further, the bookbinding application outputs the output paper size and the drawing data imposed for the text to the printer driver via the despooler (S3406). The printer driver generates print data that can be interpreted by the printer, based on the drawing data generated by the bookbinding application and the command indicating the cutting process.

  By executing the above processing, when the offline finisher is not selected as the post-printing processing apparatus, the bookbinding application generates a command for designating the cutting process. Therefore, the printer can execute processing according to the print data based on the command for executing the cutting processing created by the bookbinding application. Note that the print data generated by the printer driver is data that can be interpreted by the printer.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the drawing) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, and an optical disk. Further, as a recording medium, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), etc. is there.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. Then, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from a homepage of the connection destination to a recording medium such as a hard disk. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Further, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of a stand-alone document processing system according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example which implement | achieves the document processing system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a book file. It is a figure which shows the list of book attributes. It is a figure which shows the list of chapter attributes. It is a figure which shows the list of page attributes. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure which opens a book file. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for importing an electronic document. 10 is a flowchart of a procedure for generating an electronic document file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening the existing book file. It is a figure which shows an example of the user interface screen at the time of opening a new book file. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration example of a client server type document processing system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a staple control system. It is a figure which shows an example of case binding. It is a figure which shows what produced Table 1-Table 4 and all the paper sheets by the same original size. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for creating case binding when all documents are submitted with the same document size. FIG. It is an example for showing the paper size for the cover layout method. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for creating case binding when only the front cover is created on one side and the back cover and the middle original are created with a bookbinding size different from that of the front cover. It is an example for showing the paper size for the cover layout method. It is an example for demonstrating case binding. It is an example for demonstrating the processing method of a case binding. 10 is a flowchart for explaining overall processing in the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart for executing appearance setting in the second embodiment. It is an example for demonstrating finished size. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process for calculating a spine width. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the production | generation process of a cover data area. It is a figure which shows an example for demonstrating a spine cover size. It is a figure which shows an example for demonstrating cover size. FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating an example of cover layout determination processing according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the process which determines the drawing position in a spine. 10 is a flowchart of cover layout determination processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a setting screen for paper setting processing. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a finishing process. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process regarding a cutting process.

Explanation of symbols

102 electronic manuscript writer 103 electronic manuscript file 104 bookbinding application

Claims (24)

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus,
A setting means for setting a cover layout type to be used at the time of output from a plurality of cover layout types in order to execute layout processing for a cover including a back cover;
Receiving means for receiving document data including page data to be printed;
Determining means for determining page data to be laid out in a cover area from page data included in the document data received by the receiving means based on the cover layout type set by the setting means;
An information processing apparatus comprising layout means for laying out page data determined by the determining means in accordance with a cover layout type set by the setting means. Output style setting means for setting output style information;
Calculating means for calculating the number of output sheets from page data included in the document data and output style information set by the output style setting means;
A specifying means for specifying a spine cover area size included in the cover area from the number of output sheets calculated by the calculation means and the output paper type included in the output appearance information;
2. The information processing according to claim 1, wherein the layout unit executes a layout process for the cover area based on the page data determined by the determining unit and the spine cover area size specified by the specifying unit. apparatus.   2. The spine area includes a plurality of areas in which text data or image data is to be drawn, and has drawing means for drawing the text data or image data in the selected drawing area. 2. The information processing apparatus according to 2.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drawing area changes a position of the drawing area in accordance with a change in a spine cover area size specified by the specifying unit.   The setting means includes a first layout type for laying out page data for two pages for each of the front cover area and the back cover area, and a front cover area or a back cover. A second layout type that lays out one page of page data for any one cover area, and one page of page data for each cover area of the front cover area or the back cover area 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cover layout type to be used at the time of output is set from a plurality of cover layout types including at least a third layout type for laying out the layout.   The determination means determines at least page data of the first page and the last page of the document data as a cover area for the cover as a determination process for determining page data to be laid out based on the cover layout type set by the setting means. 2. A first determination process for determining page data to be laid out, or a second determination process for determining page data to be laid out in a front cover area as a first page of document data. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5. Generating means for generating bookbinding print data including cover data whose layout for the cover area is determined by the layout means;
In order to generate a print job that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus based on the bookbinding print data generated by the generation unit, the printing apparatus includes an output unit that outputs the bookbinding print data to a printer driver. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the generation unit generates bookbinding print data including information related to a cutting process executed after the printing process. An information processing method in an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a printing apparatus,
A setting step for setting a cover layout type to be used at the time of output from a plurality of cover layout types in order to execute layout processing for the cover including the back cover;
A receiving process for receiving document data including page data to be printed;
A determination step for determining page data to be laid out in a cover region from page data included in the document data received by the reception step based on the cover layout type set by the setting step;
An information processing method comprising a layout step of laying out page data determined in the determination step according to a cover layout type set in the setting step. An output style setting step for setting output style information;
A calculation step of calculating the number of output sheets from page data included in the document data and the output appearance information set by the output appearance setting step;
A specifying step of specifying a spine cover area size included in the cover area from the number of output sheets calculated in the calculation step and a paper type for output included in the output appearance information;
The information processing according to claim 9, wherein the layout process executes a layout process for a cover area based on the page data determined in the determination process and the spine cover area size specified in the specifying process. Method.   The back cover area includes a plurality of areas in which text data or image data is to be drawn, and has a drawing step of drawing text data or image data in the selected drawing area. 10. The information processing method according to 10.   The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the drawing area changes a position of the drawing area according to a change in a spine cover area size specified by the specifying step.   The setting step includes a first layout type for laying out page data for two pages for each of the front cover area and the back cover area, and the front cover area or the back cover. A second layout type that lays out one page of page data for any one cover area, and one page of page data for each cover area of the front cover area or the back cover area The information processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a cover layout type to be used at the time of output is set from a plurality of cover layout types including at least a third layout type for laying out.   In the determination step, at least page data of the first page and the last page of the document data is set as a front cover area as a determination process for determining page data to be laid out based on the cover layout type set in the setting step. 10. A first determination process for determining page data to be laid out, or a second determination process for determining page data to be laid out in a front cover area for the first page of document data. 14. The information processing method according to any one of 1 to 13. Generating bookbinding print data including cover data for which a layout for a cover area has been determined by the layout process;
In order to generate a print job that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus based on the bookbinding print data generated by the generation step, the bookbinding print data is output to a printer driver. The information processing method according to any one of claims 9 to 14.   16. The information processing method according to claim 15, wherein the generation step generates bookbinding print data including information related to a cutting process executed after the printing process. An information processing program that can be executed by an information processing apparatus that can communicate with a printing apparatus,
A setting step for setting a cover layout type to be used at the time of output from a plurality of cover layout types in order to execute layout processing for the cover including the back cover;
A receiving process for receiving document data including page data to be printed;
A determination step for determining page data to be laid out in a cover region from page data included in the document data received by the reception step based on the cover layout type set by the setting step;
A computer-readable information processing program comprising a layout step of laying out page data determined in the determination step according to a cover layout type set in the setting step. An output style setting step for setting output style information;
A calculation step of calculating the number of output sheets from page data included in the document data and the output appearance information set by the output appearance setting step;
A specifying step of specifying a spine cover area size included in the cover area from the number of output sheets calculated in the calculation step and a paper type for output included in the output appearance information;
18. The information processing according to claim 17, wherein the layout process executes a layout process for a cover area based on the page data determined in the determination process and the spine cover area size specified in the specifying process. program.   The back cover area includes a plurality of areas in which text data or image data should be drawn, and has a drawing step of drawing the text data or image data in the selected drawing area. 18. An information processing program according to 18.   The information processing program according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the drawing area changes a position of the drawing area in accordance with a change in a spine cover area size specified by the specifying step.   The setting step includes a first layout type for laying out page data for two pages for each of the front cover area and the back cover area, and the front cover area or the back cover. A second layout type that lays out one page of page data for any one cover area, and one page of page data for each cover area of the front cover area or the back cover area The information processing program according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein a cover layout type to be used at the time of output is set from a plurality of cover layout types including at least a third layout type for laying out.   In the determination step, at least page data of the first page and the last page of the document data is set as a front cover area as a determination process for determining page data to be laid out based on the cover layout type set in the setting step. 18. A first determination process for determining as page data to be laid out or a second determination process for determining the first page of document data as page data to be laid out in a front cover area. The information processing program of any one of thru | or 21. Generating bookbinding print data including cover data for which a layout for a cover area has been determined by the layout process;
In order to generate a print job that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus based on the bookbinding print data generated by the generation step, the bookbinding print data is output to a printer driver. The information processing program according to any one of claims 17 to 22. The information processing program according to claim 23, wherein the generation step generates bookbinding print data including information related to a cutting process executed after the printing process.

Images